Cyndi Lauper will perform on November 3 at the Schottenstein Center

Some called Cyndi Lauper a master at reinventing herself, but it’s not so much a reinvention as it shows us more of who she is.

After the first days of working in the Blue Angel group, Lauper burst onto the pop scene in 1983 with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” a bouncy ode to girl power that rocketed to number two on the charts after some radio stations initially rejected it as not strong enough for the top 40.

No one spoke like her, right down to her thick Queens accent. And of course no one looked like Lauper, with her shiny, tousled, half-shaved, tomato-red hair and vintage boho fashion sense.

The video for “Girls” was in heavy rotation during the early years of MTV. It shows Lauper gleefully thumbing her nose at the patriarchy while her beleaguered parents, played by Lauper’s mother Catherine and professional wrestling manager “The Captain” Lou Albano, panic.

“I wanted every little girl to see herself, no matter who she was or where she came from,” Lauper said in “Let the Canary singdocumentary about her life and career.

This life and career has had its ups, downs, deviations and failures. But Lauper, now 71, continues to move forward and is determined to remain true to herself.

“I have never lived a double life. What you see is what you get,” Lauper told The Dispatch. “I was never like my peers; I’ve always been different.”

You’ll see the versatile performer when Lauper brings her farewell tour to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday. Elle King will perform as a supporting artist. Tickets start at $34 at Ticketmaster.com.

You’ll come across as someone who’s brave, witty, and smart—this is the woman who hit it big with “She Bop,” a fun little song about… well, Google it.

That’s exactly the impression The Dispatch got of Lauper during a recent conversation with the Emmy, Grammy and Grammy Awards. Tony winner — yes, she has almost reached EGOT status.

Currently working on the new musical Working Girl, Lauper discussed the evolution of her music, whether goodbye is really goodbye, and other topics.

Q: When you released “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” did you intend for it to be a feminist anthem, especially after the fall of Roe v. Wade?

Cyndi Lauper: Of course I did it! It was meant to bring women together—all of us, not just some of us. I think the video especially represents New York, which has everything. It was wonderful growing up with all the languages, food and music. I wanted to show this in the first video.

One thing I learned (about) in the 70s and 60s was the women’s movement. I burned my training bra at the Alice in Wonderland statue! When they said, “We want a women’s anthem, maybe they didn’t understand who they were talking to!” (Laughs)

Question: You did the dance, country and blues albums. What inspired this choice?

Lauper: I think I tried a lot of different things because I wanted to grow. If you don’t change, you don’t grow.

Question: This is your farewell tour, but is this the end of the performances?

Lauper: I started writing for Broadway, so I was very focused on Working Girl. I realized that if I kept waiting, I would never do it. I will perform, but not like this. Packing, unpacking… I won’t miss this. It’s so stressful.

This tour is a celebration of my entire career. It’s really about bringing people together and celebrating and saying, “Thank you.” This was on my bucket list. I have a great team, a great creative director, and it’s really all I wanted to do. It’s visual, it’s performance, it’s amazing. I want to try to make this something that can bring us all together rather than tear us apart. That’s what this tour is about: a joyful night, little hugs.

Q: What was it like making Let the Canary Sing and revisiting so much of your life and career?

Lauper: My mother died in 2022. I had all these photographs from her and I knew the history of things. I have always been very close to my mother. What I saw as a child (Lauper had an abusive stepfather) had a big influence on what I would do.

Alison Ellwood real film director. I didn’t want it to just be a TV special; I wanted it to feel like a movie. I talked a lot (laughs) and was very touched to hear my brother and sister talk. Patti (LaBelle), it was great to hear her speak… and Boy George, he’s just such a beautiful man.

Q: In your memoir, you say you never felt good enough. Do you still feel so unsure of yourself?

Lauper: Constantly. Sometimes I’m afraid that I won’t sing well enough, that I won’t be good enough. You’ll have to put that aside and just walk straight with one foot in front of the other. What you have, you give. Then you take a deep breath and accept who you are and where you are going in your life.

Q: What can Columbus fans expect at Sunday’s show?

Lauper: Lots of colorful wigs! My hair is now a lovely mint shade! In addition, all proceeds go to “Girls just want fundamental rights”.

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